Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-05
miscellaneous.
The Midsummer Pastures.

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This is the period when, more than at
any other time, the farmer realizes the ne
cessity tor good pasturage, and especially
is it the case if he has band of cows from
which he is obtaining milk for town Gus
toners, or cream for the creamery. Not
withstanding the recent rains which have
put growing crops in good trim, the close
fed hillside pastures, under scorching
midsummer sun, become parched and
brown, the herbage-what little there is
dry and juiceless; and where, as is ire
quently the case. the pasture is somewhat
overstocked. the grass tails to recover at
night sufficient to give good cropping to
the cattle on the following day. The profit
from dairy cows comes from the highest
yearly range of product, and where this is
greatly lessened in volume for two months
in the year from lack of good pasture feed,
there is a serious inroad made upon the
margin above the expenses, wherein comes
the profit of the business. For supple
mental feed at this period of the year is
absolutely necessary on most dairy farms.
and this adds up larger cost on the ex-
pense side of the account.
Yet with this necessity for the best pro-
vision for our dairy cows, and young cat
tie upon which we wish to put growth in
summer, the pasture, OF all the branches
of the farm economy, receives the least
attention. AS to care. or the selection of
the most suitable land for pasture, it is
seldom thought of. Neglect presides with
full sway over most of our Maine pastures.
They are over-grown with weeds, bushes
and brakes, they are scrubby and dry. and
the little grass there is in them maintains
life by constant warfare with the worth
less plants crowding them out of existence.
The best of land for pastures will become
worthless from neglect.
The location OF large tract of land for
grazing purposes exclusively, best serves
its purpose if it embraces both high and
low land, with running brook, and some
trees tor shade-this last an indispensable
requisite. The old farmers used to
boast of their "hill pastures" think
ing there was nothing like them. But
their farms were hill farms generally,
and they liked to look off over acres upon
acres of side hill lands where the pillow
could never go, and see their herds graz
ing in luxurious contentment. The virgin
pastures upon the hillside, however, are
thing of the past. although hill pas
ture furnishes sweet heritage. a diversi-
ty of surface in pasture is sure to hold
out the best for all seasons of the year.
In spring, when feed is rank and fresh,
before summer droughts have pinched,
the higher locations will be chosen by cat
tie as feeding ground; when the hot
weather comes they will seek the lower
land in the pasture-both from the more
abundant feed obtained, as well as for the
GOODNESS of the valleys.
A week or two since we were visiting g
farmer in one of the towns in the extreme
western part of the State, and went ou
with him after the work of the hay fielo
had been closed up for the day-just after
sunset, and when the moon was swinging
we'll up the eastern sky-to visit pasture
4yharain ha hod some favoritp steers II
was good pasture. a portion of which
lay on low intervale down by small
river, while also extending up to quite q
high hill, wooded back from the river
81 shall find the steers up there Mr.
Cook said, pointing to the high part OF
the pasture in the distance; Il always
find them up there feeding at night
while in the day time they Craze more
down on the intervale by the river" II
was natures choice. Under the sun Of
nconday-down in the damp valley by the
water; at night-on the high dry lane
upon which the sun poured down its mos
burning rays at midday. In planning
for aegood pasture, we should select that
which will afford both low and high land
both moist and dry, so that the diversity
of field may help us out at midsummer
on a supply of milk, and help US tc
add few inches in size under the girthing
chain.